Ex-Library Books: What They're Worth and How to Buy Them

An ex-library book is one that was once part of a library collection and later withdrawn and sold. Libraries sell discarded books at sales and to dealers, so ex-library copies are everywhere in the used market. They can be a smart buy, as long as you know what you’re getting.

How to recognise an ex-library book

Look for:

• Stamps on the edges, title page or inside covers, often including “Withdrawn” or “Discard”
• Card pockets glued inside the covers, and date-due slips
• Spine labels with classification numbers
• Barcodes and RFID tags
• Plastic jacket covers taped or glued to the boards
• Reinforced or rebound bindings in heavy library cloth
• Perforation stamps embossed through a page

Sellers should always mention ex-library status. If a listing is vague and the price seems too good, ask.

What ex-library status does to value

For collectors, ex-library markings are a significant defect. A first edition with library stamps, a pocket and a spine label is usually worth a small fraction of a clean copy. Many collectors won’t buy them at all.

For readers, the story is different. Library books were often bought in sturdy hardcover editions, reinforced and protected by plastic covers. A withdrawn library copy can be a durable, inexpensive way to own a book you just want to read.

When an ex-library copy is a good buy

• You want to read, not collect. Ex-library copies are often among the cheapest available.
• The book is scarce. For some out-of-print scholarly or specialist titles, most surviving copies passed through libraries. An ex-library copy may be the only realistic option.
• Library bindings appeal. Some readers like the durability of buckram-bound copies.

When to avoid them

• You’re building a collection where condition and originality matter.
• The listing doesn’t disclose markings and the seller won’t answer questions.
• The book was rebound and has lost its original covers or jacket, if originality matters to you.

Selling ex-library books

State ex-library status clearly in the title or first line of the condition note, and list the markings. Grade the rest of the book honestly; ex-library books are commonly graded no higher than Good by collectors, whatever their physical condition. Buyback services and some marketplaces have specific rules for them. Use our Condition Grader to write an accurate note.

Don’t try to “clean” the markings

Removing stickers, pockets and stamps rarely improves value and often damages the book. A book with traces of removed labels is still ex-library, and buyers may see the removal as concealment. Leave the markings and describe them.